What if this is you
and you, and your very different styles have to coexist in one space? It is not as farfetched or uncommon as one would hope, at least not in my house, as well as in Montana where we live. Of course this is an exaggeration to illustrate a point, yet many husbands and wives and other type of domestic partnerships, and even roommates face similar situations.
What is one to do? Combining husband and wife and different interior design styles can be a challenge, but it's also an opportunity to create a space that truly reflects both partners. look at it as a fun, even if a tad challenging task, as combining elements from various design aesthetics will help you create a unique and personalized space. Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful blend of tastes and styles: Identify the dominant style or common themes Start by determining which style you want to be the dominant theme in your space. This could be the style that you are most drawn to, or the one that is most practical for your lifestyle. Look for common themes and elements in both design styles. For example, if both partners prefer clean lines, neutral colors, and natural materials, focus on incorporating these elements into the space. Pick complementary styles or create zones Choose styles that complement the dominant style and work well together. For example, a traditional style can be complemented by a touch of modern, or a bohemian style can be complemented by a touch of industrial. If one partner prefers a more traditional look while the other likes a more modern style, consider also creating separate sub-zones within the space. Create a color palette Choose a color palette that ties all the styles together. Use neutral colors such as black, white, cream and gray as the base and add pops of color from each style, however make sure it is a limited color palette. Too many colors can detract and make each piece in your room feel like it stands alone. Mix and match Mix and match furniture from different styles to create a cohesive look. For example, you can combine a traditional sofa with a modern coffee table or a bohemian rug with an industrial pendant light. Combining elements of both design styles and personalities can create a unique look that reflects both partners. Use art One of the wonderful things about using art in your design is that it can be used to combine a variety of interior design styles. Add an abstract or modern art piece to a room of traditional furniture or pair a landscape with modern furniture. In fact, mixing it up a bit keeps the room from looking too uninspired or stiff. Use accessories Use accessories such as throw pillows, curtains, and artwork to bring together all the different styles and tie them all together. Choose items that have elements from each style and place them in strategic locations to balance the space. Experiment with texture and patterns Different textures can help bridge the gap between two different design styles. For example, if one partner prefers a sleek, modern look, add texture to the space through plush rugs, textured fabrics, or woven baskets. Another option is to choose a unifying pattern. Watch Size and Scale A word of caution: pay close attention to scale and size. A giant overstuffed chair will look terrible in a room full of delicate feminine pieces. Keep items similarly sized and scale-friendly. Consider compromise Compromise is the key when combining two different design styles. If one partner is unwilling to compromise on a certain aspect of their design style, find ways to incorporate that element in a different way. One good way to do this is to make the oddball into the focal point. Ultimately, the most important thing is to create a space that both partners love and feel comfortable in. Be open minded, and have fun experimenting with different design elements until you find a style that works for both of you. Remember, the key is to create a harmonious balance between all the elements.
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The actual numbers are quite geo-specific. In many areas, a $20k budget can get you a nice kitchen facelift: Items like painting your existing kitchen cabinets, new counters, new backsplash, new lighting, new hardware, and maybe some minor construction work. That's assuming you aren't paying a general contractor or a designer. The cost of a full kitchen gut really depends on where you live. In the US, the low average end of the range is about $40k with the high end of the range hitting $150k or more. In terms of time, a minor kitchen facelift can be done in as little as two weeks if everything runs smoothly, provided you've selected all of your finishes already and have scheduled every contractor back-to-back. A full kitchen remodel can easily take as long as a few months or longer. This time frame may not even include the design and planning phases. Sometimes, it can take a while to find the perfect countertop or research the appliances you want, and sometimes the items may be out of stock, or have long lead times, so plan appropriately and don't rush the process. It’s important to spend on the areas that matter most. If you were our client, this is where we would tell you to invest in: Countertops: Functionally, your countertops can take a beating on a regular basis. You want something that will hold up and look great for years to come. Aesthetically they’re one of the first things people notice when they walk into a kitchen. If you ever sell your home, high quality countertops are always desirable. Cabinetry: If replacing, our advice is to go with a mid-range cabinet box and door. Splurge on soft closed hinges and glides, and full extension drawer slides: Once considered a luxury, they are becoming more common and a great selling point. If your cabinets are in decent shape or you can’t replace them at the moment, consider refacing, re-staining or repainting them. Hardware: You’ll be touching your cabinetry hardware every single day, so go for decent quality. Hardware reinforces whatever style you're going for and makes a difference in the final look of your overall design. Faucet: There's a big difference between the most affordable and the most expensive options, at least from a quality standpoint. Go for mid-range with a stainless-steel body, ceramic disc valve, magnetic spray, pull down design, and reliable, touchless on and off capabilities (a function that is fantastic to have in the kitchen). Lighting: Under cabinet lighting not only serves an important function as additional task lighting for your countertop, it also provides a beautiful ambiance to a kitchen. If you have an island or a breakfast nook, take the opportunity to select statement lighting for the area that reinforces your kitchen style. Quality cooktop or range: Unlike the oven, which typically gets used infrequently by most homes, a cooktop is often the true workhorse of the kitchen, and is typically one of the longest lasting appliances as well. And finally, an honorable mention goes to the sink: While you can save a lot of money and get a decent quality stainless steel sink, sometimes a sink really does make the design, such as a farmhouse sink in farmhouse, English country, French country, modern French, and cottage kitchens. Replacing the sink down the road is quite difficult, so better to spend on a quality sink upfront. All these areas carry a big design impact. Many of them have a great ROI and more importantly, will make you love your kitchen even more, whether it's cooking, entertaining, or whichever activities you enjoy doing in your kitchen. Final word: If remodeling is not in the cards for your kitchen in the near future, consider a time and cost effective kitchen refresh, which can be done in a short amount of time and at a relatively small investment. Many parts of a kitchen refresh can be DIYed. If you need some friendly advice or a nudge in the right direction to get you started on your kitchen transformation, contact us for one of our design & décor services and consultations.
So excited to kick off this new blog series called “Shop the Designer Style”. Here we'll provide a peek into some of our favorite projects and the inspiration behind them. We'll share tidbits about the people these rooms were designed for, and best of all, our designer sources to buy curated looks for your own space. We'll also share our favorite designer finds such as statement pieces, furniture, art, accessories and décor to help you style your home like a pro. The idea for the color scheme for this SoHo living room design, came up while strolling the cherry blossoms in Central Park, on a trip to New York City this spring. So lucky to have witnessed this fleeting splendor on an impromptu visit! Vanessa is a French expat who has lived in Manhattan since the early 2000's. She is 38 and works for a large international bank. She has a small dog named Fifi, and just bought a loft in SoHo. Her career is very important to her, but she’s dating, and her new priority is to find “the one”. She reads French Vogue and Elle Décor and loves visiting the glamourous showrooms in the New York Design Center, on 200 Lex. She reached out to us for help decorating her new apartment, not because she lacks a sense of style, but because between work, dating and Fifi, she simply doesn’t have the time. She's the type of person who values their time over the cost, and has worked hard for that privilege.
The reason we are sharing so many details about Vanessa's life is because our approach to designing people’s homes is custom tailored and bespoke. It's important for us to get to know the people we design for, so we can create a space that reflects their true personality and the things that are important to them. We chose to go with a clean and minimal aesthetic, punctuated with mid-century styling and Scandinavian influences to create a contemporary living space. Soft and plush throw pillows and a curvy blush statement sofa with gold legs and luxurious upholstery, for a glam feminine vibe. The atmosphere is feminine and seductive, reminiscent of the movie ‘Basic Instinct’. The mood is created through juxtaposition of contrasting elements, balanced by a touch of raw masculinity. Color, texture and pattern are injected via rugs, decorative accessories and modern art. In our furniture and décor choices, we also included a white contemporary recliner with clean lines in a calming palette to soften the mood, bringing an instant sense of relaxation. A glass coffee table with jagged legs reiterates the 'Basic Instinct' vibe of the light fixture. Lots of plants to reinforce a connection to nature and contrasting shapes, textures and colors to add to the seductive atmosphere. It was important for us not to go overboard with the ‘Basic Instinct’ theme, as to not completely scare off potential mates, so we brought in an earthy and masculine console in natural washed wood color to offset the femme fatale vibe, and added raw earthy tones to insert some masculinity throughout the space, including black wallpaper juxtaposed against the blush velvet sofa. Additional elements we included in the room such as these pieces can be found in our online Designer Boutique. Do you have any thoughts on our process, the design of this room, the color scheme or the art and décor choices? Let us know in the comments below! Contact us if you are interested in any of our design services and don't forget to like and share this post if you enjoyed it ♡.
Creating an eclectic gallery wall doesn’t have to be a complicated or daunting task. It’s a fun, yet sophisticated and inexpensive way to add a sense of style and character to any room. 1. Start by gathering everything you think you may want to include on that wall. You can include art you've collected over the years, posters, concert tickets, family photos, diplomas and other mementos. 2. Frame any items that require framing, like concert tickets. Don’t worry if you have an unframed painting on canvas or frames that don’t match, that’s part of the fun! 3. Measure your gallery wall space and create an identical brown or newspaper version. Don't forget to make it the same shape and size as your wall area. Lay it flat on the floor. 4. Start filling in your paper model with items you gathered in step 1. Shuffle things around until you achieve a design you are happy with. Think Tetris. Be playful and have fun! 5. Once you have your gallery wall layout, trace around each item and take plenty of photos. We are creating in essence, a map of where every piece goes. 6. Transfer and tape your paper model to the wall. Add nails top and center of each trace before removing the paper. 7. Look at the photos you took in step 5 and fill in the blanks. Et voila! You’ve created a professional looking gallery wall in 7 easy steps.
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